Key-lever for type-writers.



No. 800,733. PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

W. R. FOX & G. J. BAREETTM KEY LEVER POR TYPE WRITBRS APPLICATION FILED JULY 31. 1902.

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au d Wi t13@sscsi N ITllilD STATES FATINI OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. FOX AND GLENN J. BARRETT, OF GRAND RAPIDS,

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO FOX MACHINE RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

COMPANY, OF GRAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed July 31,1902. Serial No. 117,776-

Be it known that we, lVILLIAu R. Fox and GLENN vJ. Ru-mn'rr, citizens of the United States, residing at the city of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Levers for Type-IYriters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in type-writers.

It relates particularlyv to improvements in key-levers and their connections and ad juncts.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide an improved construction of keylever where it is possible and practical to make use of aluminium or other soft metal;

second, to provide an apparatus for such levers whereby the individual parts of the system can be correctly and properly adjusted and their connections properly adjusted to secure the best results in the operation of the type-bars upon the platen; third, to provide an improved construction of key-lever whereby its external contour may be readily conformed and adjusted to contact with the universal bar which actuates the escapement, thereby avoiding an elaborate adjustment of the bearings, securing' the proper relation of the keys on the keyboard and the levers to such bar; fourth, to provide an improved adjustable connection from the respective keylevers to the type-bars of the machine.

Further objects will definitely appear. in the detailed description to follow.

IVe accomplish the objects of our invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

Theinvention is clearly defined, and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the 'features of our invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which-- Figure I is a sectional view through the lower part of a type-writing machine, taken on a line corresponding to line I l of Fig. 2. Fig. Q is a detail rear elevation view of the rear connection of the key-levers, showing the connection of the escapement-bar D. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the adjustable connection of the key to the type-bar of the machine. Fig. fi is a detail sectional view on line 44C of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the adjustable connection for the escapement-bar. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail plan view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged View of one of the adjustable springs for the keylevers. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the spring connection to the rear of the spacer-bar lever B. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a linger-key. Fig. 10 is a slight modilication of the same where the layers of metal forming the body are slightly separated to give additional support.

In the drawings all of the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section-lines, and similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring tothe lettered parts of the drawings, A is the main frame of the machine, in which the series of key-levers are supported.

B is one of the key-levers bearingafingerkey H at its forward end. This is notched at a at its rear end and engages a transverse downwardly-projecting thin blade E on a transverse bar E, which allthe key-levers engage.. This notch is slightly enlarged at the bottom to permit a free movement of the levers at this point and secure the effect of a pivotal center at the top edge of the bar where the opposite angularly-projecting sides of the U-shaped slot a contact with the blade E.

The lever-spring (see Fig'. l) engages the under side of the lever B about one inch and a-half to the front of its fulcruming-point to hold the key constantly up in position. A transverse bar, however, is arranged a little beneath the rear ends to prevent the keys from being disengaged from the blade E when the springs are not present. The tension of the springs is adjustable bythe setscrew c, the lower end of the spring being bent square down to enter a socket in this screw.

Ie show in Fig. 8 in connection with the spacer-lever, which is also a finger-lever, a spring Z2', which is a iiat spring that engages a groove in the bar F, the screw c turning up against the same. spring serves to lock the set-screw, so when it is once located it always remains securely in position. However, with the spring ten- IOO In that structure the sion on the screw as it appears in Fig'. L there is very little danger oli its becoming' displaced.

ln connection with the spacer-lever we provide a set-screwf, which set-screw extends down throug'h the bar lll over the lever il" to reg'ulate the heig'ht ot the key-lever at that point and on which the lever B 'lnlcrums ,In the type-key lever l opposite the escapement-bar we vform a slot Ps well down toward the lower edg'e and lind where the key-lever is ot' soltmetal that it is a very easy matter to deflect the portion olj the key below the slot downward or upward to g'ive exactly the rig'ht relation to the escapementbar. This is obviously a very great Yadvantage because itavoids the necessity ot' cutting' away the key or of elaborately adjusting' the key by such means as the screw j' and the screw f: to bring' it to the proper relation to the escapement-bar when the linger-key at the trent is at the right elevation. lt ean be done this way; butwe preter to use that means only on the spacer-lv'ey lever.

Beneath the rear ends ot the linger-levers we place a transverse bar li, supported by a hanger li at such a distance therefrom as to prevent thei r accidental displacement. 'lhese lever-bars are liable to accidental disj'ilacenient without this provision, as our experience demonstrates, thoug'h with careful usage the bar might be dispensed with.

Each key-lever B .is connected by a coupling' C to the connecting-wire C (seo Figs. S3 and et) to its proper type-bar. The coupling' t) is made up ot sheet metal turned over upon itself, having' at tho lower extremity two ea adapted to straddle the linger-lever l. MLits upper end is a cup-like 'formation the top ot which in a plane at right ang'les to the line drawn through its center and the ends of a pivot connecting' the coupling' tothe lever l. In the center ot this cup-like formation is an opening' through which is passed the connecting-wire C. Inside this cup is a nut c, conformed to lit within the cup and threaded to tit on the wire C, and it provided with a projection d, litting the hollow neck ol. the coupling' where the same connects to the cup, thereby preventing' the nut Atrom turnin within the cup when the wire C' is turned therein. A lock-nut is threaded above the eu p and locks the parts securely together. This coupling' secures a perfect adjustment ol the colmection from the linger-levers to the type-bars as it is possible to secure, and thus regulates the position ot the parts and secures the proper throw ot the type-bars in relation to the linger-levers.

rl`he transverse D common to all the keylevers is the escapement--bar and is adj nstably supported under the key-levers by the rods D at each end, one ol which only is illustrated. This rod. is adjusted bythe nut (I, which spring/l eng'ag'ing' the notch d. as clearly appears in Figs. 5 and (i, so that the heig'htol the la' can be quite :uifcnrately adjusted in position Ytor all ot the type-bars and a minute :uljnstn'ient eli'eeted by del'lecting' the part ot the key-lever opposite the bar or by adjusting' the liulcrum olI the key-lever, whicheverseems to 'be the most expedient in the linal adjustment ol the machine.

Ls these keys are made ot' :'tlun'linium or ol comparatively solt metal, it is a matter ot' considerable dil'liculty to secure the linger-keys to them in a rig'id manner, particularly to the metal alnminiinn, because it cannot be satisfactorily soldered. lt is preferable to have the keys made ot brass or other sott metal that can be readily formed b v adie. lVe therefore make an outer shell H ot brass and an inner button part ti ol steel and shoulder the end ot' the kev-lever B, so that a portion enters a slot in thesetwo plates, like a tenon. Ye then rivet down the sott metal ot the key against the rig'id steel above, which g'ives it a lirin hold, and owing' to the added thickness the key is very satislactorilyretained in place when the printed disk l and the g'lass l are pnt in position and the outer ring' ll/ is lorced down over the same. ln il lll this is shown slig'htly modlied` thoug'h the same principle is involved. The outer shell l'l is there deilected downward and eng'ag'es an independent shoulder on the end oll the lever vl'Land a second shoulder is torn'ied within this shell to eng'ag'e the steel plate t?, thus making' a very strong' brace tor the button and making' it possible to use very sot'tmetal. le lind, however, that this separation ot the two parts G and l'lV tothe extent iiulicated in Fig'. lt) is oi no g'reat advantage unless the parts are made very lig'ht.

Having' thus described our improved construction ot key-levers and their connections, we desire to remark that the same can be considerably varied in its details without departing' lrom our invention. le also desire to remark tl'xat many ot' the features en'iployed are capable ot' use in other relations, although they all coact to increase the el'liciency ot' the vkey-lever bar in a tv )e-writine' machine.

Having' thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isfl. in a type-writing' n'lachine, a lever system consisting' oi the con'ibination ot' the l'ing'erlevers l having' buttons at one end and a U- shaped notch if in the opposite end; a block E with a blade E Ytor engaging' the U-shaped notch; an adjustable screw f mounted in the block E; a M shaped spring' upon the under side ot' said linger-levers l Yfor holding' the same normally against said adj ustablc screwf said spring' being` formed otl Vl'lat spring' material, its upward extremity having' two upwardiff-projecting' ears to eng'ag'e the lingerlevers B, and its lower portion termed down notched at d and retained in position by the I to lit a groove f/ in the block a screw C ICO IIO

inserted in the blockF to bear upon the downwardly-projecting' portion of the spring L', and adjustable connections between the fingerlevers and the type-bars of the machine, substantially as described.

2. In a type-writing machine, a lever system consisting of the combination of finger-levers having buttons mounted upon one end thereof and a U-shaped notch cut at the rear end of the upper edge of said linger-levers; a block extending' from one side of the frame of the machine to the other having' a downwardlyprojecting blade to eng'age the said U-shaped notch; adjustable screws in said block; U- shaped springs bearing upon the under side of said levers to hold said levers in normal position against said adjusting-screw; an adjusting-screw mounted in the cross-bar to bear upwardly on the said U -shaped springs; a cross-bar beneath the levers and connections between the linger-levers and the ty pe-bars of the machine, substantially as described.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an adjustable connection between the finger-levers and the type-bars consisting of a coupling' C formed of a piece of sheet metal folded over upon itself in U shape having two ears alining with each other adapted to straddle the linger-levers; and a cup-shaped formation at the other end; the top of which cupshaped formation is in a plane at right angles to a line through its center and the center of said ears, said cup-shaped formation having' an opening' in its center; a connecting-wire C' with its lower extremity threaded through said opening; a nut or bur upon said connecting-wire fitting the top of said cup-shaped formation; and a nut of a circular piece of metal to lit the under side of said cup-shaped formation, havinga projection to fit the neck of said coupling c where the same intersects the cup, substantially as described.

4. In a type-writing' machine, the combination of an adjustable connection between the linger-levers and the type-bars consisting' of a coupling' formed of a piece of metal folded over upon itself in U shape having two ears adapted to straddle the finger-levers, and a cup-shaped formation at the other end, the top of which cup-shaped formation is in a plane at right angles to a line through its center and the center of said ears, said cup-shaped formation having an opening in its center; a conneetingwire with its lower extremity threaded, through said opening; and a nut or bur upon said connecting-wire fitting the top of said cup-shaped formation, and a lock-nut of a circular piece of metal adapted to fit the under side of said cup-shaped formation, having a projection to fit the neck of said coupling' where the same intersects the said cup, substantially as described.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an adjustable connection between the linger-levers and the type-bars consisting' of a coupling formed of a piece of metal folded over upon itself in U shape having two ears adapted to straddle the linger-levers, and a cup-shaped formation at the other end, said cup-shaped formation having' an opening in its center; a connecting-wire with its lower extremity threaded through said opening; and a uut or bur upon said connecting-wire fitting the top of said cup-shaped formation; and a nut of a circular piece of metal adapted to lit the under side of said cup-shaped formation, having a projection to lit the neck of said coupling where the same intersects said cup, substantially as described.

6. In a type-waiting machine, the combination of an adjustable connection between the finger-levers and the type-bars consisting of a coupling form'ed of a piece of metal folded upon itself in U shape, having' two ears adapte'd to straddle the finger-levers, and a cupshaped formation at the other end, said cupshaped formation having an opening in its center; a connecting-wire with its lower extremity threaded through said opening; and a nut or bur upon said connecting-wire fitting the top of said cup-shaped formation; and a nut of a circular piece of metal adapted to lit the under side of said cup-shaped formation,

having a projection to tit the neck of said coup-A ling where the same intersects said cup, substantially as described.

7. In a type-writing' machine, the combination of an adjustable connection between the finger-levers and the type-bars consisting of a coupling formed of a piece of metal folded over upon 'itself in U shape having two ears adapted to straddle the linger-levers, and a cup-shaped formation at the other end, said cup-shaped formation having an opening in its center; a connecting-wire with its lower extremity threaded through said opening; and a jam-nut or bur upon said connectingwire fitting the top of said cup-shaped formation, and a nut of a piece of metal adapted to fit the underside of said cup-shaped formation, having' a projection to fit the neck of said coupling where the same intersects the said cup, substantially as described.

8. In a type-writing' machine, the combination of an adjustable connection between the finger-levers and the type-bars consisting' of a coupling' formed of a piece of metal folded .over upon itself in U shape having two ears adapted to straddle the linger-levers and a cup-shaped formation having an opening at its center; a connecting-wire with its lower extremity threaded through said opening; and a jam-nut or bur upon said connectingwire fitting the top of said cup-shaped formation; and a nut of a piece of metal adapted to fit the under side of said cup-shaped formation, having' a projection to fit the neck of said coupling' where the same intersects said cup, substantially as described.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combina- IOO IIO

tion ot' the leylcver; a type-bar eoupling-rod U; and a coupling from Said key-lever pivoted thereto and extending' upwardly and curved at right angles to the said couplingrod; Screw-nuts one of which is adapted to seat in said coupling whereby its rotation. is prevented, and the other of which serves as a lock-nut on the opposite side of said coupling, whereby a fine adjustment is attained between the parts, as specified.

l0. In a type-writer, a metal key-lever with an elongated slot therein, whereby the contacting' portion of the lever of an operative part may be deflected up or down to time its contact in combination with the escapernentbar, for the purpose speeilied.

1l. In a type-writing machi.ne,the combina- WILLIAM R. FOX. [L sf] GLENN J. BARRETT.

Witnesses:

EDWARD Gr. MATTER, GnoL. MGMULLEN. 

